Marc Bolan (June 24, 1966) “MARC BOLAN sings a self-penned, dual-tracked piece of philosophy on his new disc” – Southern Daily Echo (UK)

This rare early review from June 24, 1966, offers a positive spotlight on Marc Bolan’s second solo single “The Third Degree” / “San Francisco Poet,” highlighting his poetic songwriting and marking one of the earliest published appreciations of his work as a 19-year-old artist on the cusp of his legendary career

PUBLICATION: Southern Daily Echo Date: Friday, June 24, 1966 Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Music / Record Review Column

THE STORY

The short but enthusiastic review praises Bolan’s self-penned “The Third Degree,” noting its dual-tracked vocals, jangling guitar, insistent drum beat, and unusual end effects by U.S. producer Jim Economides. It also highlights the B-side “San Francisco Poet” as strong evidence of Bolan’s poetic talent. The piece mentions Bolan’s upcoming first book and positions him as a promising 19-year-old artist with significant potential.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Published just three weeks after the single’s release, this review is a charming snapshot of Bolan’s very early solo days — long before the emergence of Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex. It reflects the growing underground interest in his unique blend of folk, poetry, and rock as he transitioned from Mod scene figure to future glam icon. Reviews like this are quite rare for his pre-T. Rex material.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Early Single Review – “The Third Degree”

Era: 1966 Pre-Glam / Folk-Rock Tone: Positive, encouraging, and forward-looking

Photography: None (text-only review) Visual Motifs: Dense newspaper typography, asterisk borders typical of 1960s music columns

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Short promotional-style review of the Decca single F.12413

• Praise for Bolan’s songwriting, production, and poetic style

• Mention of his age, background, and plans to publish a book

• Producer credit for Jim Economides and reference to previous collaborations

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RELATED MATERIAL

Marc Bolan (June 3, 1966) “The Third Degree” / “San Francisco Poet” – Single 7" UK

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